HARRISBURG – The Moshannon Valley Joint Sewer Authority has been awarded a $3.902 million low-interest loan through the state’s PENNVEST program to upgrade its plant and improve its performance level, according to Senator Jake Corman (R-34).
Corman said the authority is a regional sewage treatment provider serving five municipalities in Centre and Clearfield counties.
The funding will be used to upgrade the plant’s headworks by adding a screening facility, relocating sewer interceptors adjacent to the plant, and upgrading worn-out equipment within the plant. The facility currently experiences a large number of operational and maintenance issues associated with rags and other debris in the raw wastewater due to a lack of adequate screening.
Corman said the loan will enable upgrades to be made without additional charges to users. The project will also create new jobs and protect water supplies from contamination.
“I’m pleased that we will be able to make these critical improvements without burdening users with higher costs,” he said. “The improvements will enable the plant to operate more efficiently and effectively for area residents and is crucial to ensuring that they have a clean safe water source.
Established in 1988, the PENNVEST program provides low-interest loans and grants to communities for new construction or improvements to water and wastewater treatment plants. Many of these small community water and sewer systems are in need of major rehabilitation or are too overburdened to accommodate new growth.